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If the Libertarians were handed the reins, how would they fund the military, maintain the interstate highway system (which actually was built to move the military in the event of war), maintain the many buildings belonging to the federal government, maintain the National Parks and National forests, fund important research such as disease control and prevention, maintain the Veterans hospital network, pay the pensions of federal workers and retired military folks, fund the FBI and CIA, provide funds for assistance for disasters such as Katrina, and probably another hundred or so necessities to having our country function?

Where does the money come from?

Do you actually believe that business/industry will act in the best interests of the nation consistently without any oversight from federal agencies?

I know i am not Franco, but all the issues you mention make me cringe, government is way too big. First libertarians would stop the growth of government, then would start to cut away needless programs. Here is an excerpt from their site

How Can We Cut Taxes?

Instead of tending to the basics, government has grown into a bloated conglomerate of political services that gets larger every year -- with no end in sight.

For example, politicians spend millions of dollars to urge people not to smoke -- while spending more millions to subsidize tobacco farmers. They send billions overseas for foreign aid -- while the federal deficit swells. They spend millions to subsidize public art -- while working families struggle to pay their taxes.

Politicians also run trains, bail out savings and loans, construct houses, sell insurance, print books, and build basketball courts -- you name it! But the fact is, every service supplied by the government can be provided better and cheaper by private business.

Privatize And Cut Taxes

All over the world, governments are busy selling airlines, power plants, housing, and factories to private owners. Where inefficient government bureaucrats lost money and squandered tax dollars, hard-working private owners now make profits and create new jobs. Why can't we do the same thing in America?

Defend America: Cut Taxes

Military expenses are over $250 billion a year! A large percentage of this is spent overseas to defend wealthy countries like Germany and Japan -- who then wallop us in international trade. Let's take them off military welfare. We can defend America better and save at least $100 billion a year in taxes.

Stop Bailing Out Industry

No one has the right to cover his losses at taxpayer expense -- and yet wealthy corporations demand exactly that. The federal government has bailed out railroads, banks, and other corporations with your tax dollars. This must stop!

Replace Welfare: Cut Taxes

The bulk of your welfare tax dollars goes to pay the handsome salaries of well-educated welfare workers. The poor get little from government welfare except meager handouts and a cycle of despair. Let's get government out of the charity business. Private charities and groups do a better and more efficient job of helping the truly needy get back on their feet.

Why An Income Tax?

Before 1913, federal income taxes were rare and short-lived. America became the most prosperous nation on earth. The U.S. Government did not try to police the world or play "nanny" to everyone from cradle to grave. People took responsibility for themselves, their families, and their communities. That is how the founders of America thought it should be. And it worked. It can again!

It's Time For Action

Republican and Democratic politicians have refused to reduce the size or cost of government. So we need your help to build a powerful new political party to get the job done -- the Libertarian Party!

If the Libertarians were handed the reins, how would they fund the military, maintain the interstate highway system (which actually was built to move the military in the event of war), maintain the many buildings belonging to the federal government, maintain the National Parks and National forests, fund important research such as disease control and prevention, maintain the Veterans hospital network, pay the pensions of federal workers and retired military folks, fund the FBI and CIA, provide funds for assistance for disasters such as Katrina, and probably another hundred or so necessities to having our country function?

Where does the money come from?

Do you actually believe that business/industry will act in the best interests of the nation consistently without any oversight from federal agencies?

First, understand that our government raises billions of dollars via various consumption taxes (like gasoline), oil royalties and other revenue including sales and business taxes.

There is a huge difference between what is spent on Defense and what is spent on our Military. Our Constitution calls for a strong Defense, which we have plenty of money for. Our attempts at policing the world and our failure in this attempt to make the correct decissions is why we are spending so much on our military. I see our military spending being what it is as a cover for our piss-poor Foreign Policy.

Roads, infastructure etc are covered by taxes on fuel. If we would let the oil companies build more refineries, with their own money, the cost at the pump would plummet. Domestic oil production for the last 1.5 years is at an all tiime high. The problem is, we don't have the capacity to refine it so, we ship it abroad to countries that can handle the refining. I find it very distrubing that our govenrment is forcing ethanol down our throats. A subject for another thread.

Our government is spending a lot of money where they shouldn't. FEMA is one example. The responsibility is with the state to take care of its own when a natural disaster hits. During Katrina, there was monumental waste of dollars. Same for Sandy. The Federal government just can't handle FEMA like it should so, best to shut it down. Just look at how citizens were blackmailed into providing this lastest round of Sandy aid.

National Parks can fund themselves off of usage fees. Research and Developement is better suited of the private secotor where waste is of concern.

Even with minimum wage, the government keeps wages down artificially.

A truely Free Marketplace, one free of gov regs that do not serve the people, is the best form of government and best serves the people!

Last edited by Franco; 03-05-2013 at 11:55 AM.

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery. Calvin Coolidge

I know i am not Franco, but all the issues you mention make me cringe, government is way too big. First libertarians would stop the growth of government, then would start to cut away needless programs. Here is an excerpt from their site

How Can We Cut Taxes?

Instead of tending to the basics, government has grown into a bloated conglomerate of political services that gets larger every year -- with no end in sight.

For example, politicians spend millions of dollars to urge people not to smoke -- while spending more millions to subsidize tobacco farmers. They send billions overseas for foreign aid -- while the federal deficit swells. They spend millions to subsidize public art -- while working families struggle to pay their taxes.

Politicians also run trains, bail out savings and loans, construct houses, sell insurance, print books, and build basketball courts -- you name it! But the fact is, every service supplied by the government can be provided better and cheaper by private business.

Privatize And Cut Taxes

All over the world, governments are busy selling airlines, power plants, housing, and factories to private owners. Where inefficient government bureaucrats lost money and squandered tax dollars, hard-working private owners now make profits and create new jobs. Why can't we do the same thing in America?

Defend America: Cut Taxes

Military expenses are over $250 billion a year! A large percentage of this is spent overseas to defend wealthy countries like Germany and Japan -- who then wallop us in international trade. Let's take them off military welfare. We can defend America better and save at least $100 billion a year in taxes.

Stop Bailing Out Industry

No one has the right to cover his losses at taxpayer expense -- and yet wealthy corporations demand exactly that. The federal government has bailed out railroads, banks, and other corporations with your tax dollars. This must stop!

Replace Welfare: Cut Taxes

The bulk of your welfare tax dollars goes to pay the handsome salaries of well-educated welfare workers. The poor get little from government welfare except meager handouts and a cycle of despair. Let's get government out of the charity business. Private charities and groups do a better and more efficient job of helping the truly needy get back on their feet.

Why An Income Tax?

Before 1913, federal income taxes were rare and short-lived. America became the most prosperous nation on earth. The U.S. Government did not try to police the world or play "nanny" to everyone from cradle to grave. People took responsibility for themselves, their families, and their communities. That is how the founders of America thought it should be. And it worked. It can again!

It's Time For Action

Republican and Democratic politicians have refused to reduce the size or cost of government. So we need your help to build a powerful new political party to get the job done -- the Libertarian Party!

Great post Mudminnow!

I want to talk banks and the bailouts for a second. Prior to the 1970's, when this country reached new heights of prosperity and wealth, we had thousands of community banks serving their customers. Through the Repubs unbridal psuh for banking Deregulation, allowing them monopolies under the guise of Consolodation, what we have now is 3 - 4 super banks that are too big to fail. The recent Dood-Frank banking bill further supports too big to fail banking congolmerates and makes it almost impossible for community banks to survive because of the new expenese in adhering to new regulations. New policy that favors mega-banks over community banks! Libertraians would like to see this reversed and a retrurn to community banks and making the playing field level for all banks and that mega-banks shouldn't receive special assistence from our Fed Government in exchange for campaign contributions. I'll add that not only do we need to end the Fed Res, that until we do, that they be audited annually and all lending to foreign banks be halted That if money is to lent to foreign banks that it come through private banks/Wall St and not the people's tax money!

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery. Calvin Coolidge

thanks for the replies, but I think you are both oversimplifying the task you are so eager to tackle. that kind of change would take the best part of a decade to effect.

So should we just keep the status quo and not support actual change that will lead to prosperity? I could sit back and become a dissapointed hippy as Marv said could happen, or realizing the immensity of the task, just try to educate others that will listen. Truth is still truth, and i will continue to speak truth to power